MALLEE Bearings maintained their composure under pressure to advance to the Sunraysia Table Tennis senior pennant grand final with a thrilling win over Tankard Dental.
The ladder leaders held on 6-4 in the second semi-final, with Mark Dorman proving to be the match winner.
In the knockout first semi-final, Regional Taxation Services snatched a thrilling 6-5 win over Cookes Pools and Spas in a result that came down to the last match.
Michael Hensgen was the standout player for RTS with his best results for the season.
Bearings grabbed the first two singles matches in the second semi, with Rohan Reimers and Gavin Carmichael defeating their respective opponents Jackson Murphy and Paul Kealley.
Reimers was able to blunt the normal attacking style of Murphy while Carmichael had his hands full with Kealley’s tricky forehand and backhand drives but was able to take the match in three sets.
Tankards then levelled the scores at two-all when Wayne Carmichael proved too steady for Dorman.
Then in the first doubles Wayne Carmichael and Murphy took the first game 13-11 over Gavin Carmichael and Dorman before taking total control to go on to win in straight sets.
The next block of singles featured Bearings winning two of the three, the best match being the four set victory by Dorman over Kealley 11-6, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9, this win giving the Bearings trio a 4-3 lead going in to the second doubles.
Tankards’ Wayne Carmichael and Kealley took to the table against Dorman and Reimers and won the first game 11-4 before the Bearings pair bounced back to win the second and third 11-2 11-6.
The fourth went to the wire with Mallee Bearings taking the taking it 13-11 with a stroke of luck … a net!
With the scores at 5-3 in Mallee Bearings favour, Tankard’s Wayne Carmichael then disposed of brother Gavin winning 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 to reduce the deficit.
The match of the night then took place with Bearings Dorman playing Murphy, the latter winning their last match-up only two weeks prior.
Dorman was away early winning the first two games, before Murphy lifted to win the next two.
Dorman raced to a 5-1 lead in the fifth and appeared to be home before Murphy rattled off the next six points to take a 7-5 advantage.
In a nerve wracking final few points Dorman was able to compose himself and finish strongly to win 13-11, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8. With his two singles successes and playing a key role in the second doubles victory Dorman proved to be the man of the match despite Wayne Carmichael winning three singles for Tankard’s.
The knockout first semi-final was a thriller and when Cooke’s Joel Thomas finished strongly over Matt Ljubic to win 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3 the score line was 5-4 in favour of Cookes Pools and Spas.
Thomas had done all he could winning three singles and taking part in both doubles’ victories.
With Regional Taxation Services under pressure Thanh Nguyen was too steady for Lee Leeson winning 12-10 11-5 11-5, the score now five rubbers all.
Then in an outstanding match Michael Hensgen for RTS was able to stay calm against Russell Walder. At nine-all in the fifth it was anyone’s game, but Hensgen proved to be the steadier in an outstanding win 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 7-1,1 11-9, advancing his team to the Preliminary Final.
While Thomas had been his outstanding self it was Hensgen who proved to be the match winner. Adding to his success in the final match he also was able to win the first match of the night 11-9 in the fifth over Lee Leeson.
Pennant semi final results:
PENNANT ONE: Second Semi Final: Mallee Bearings 6 (Gavin Carmichael, Mark Dorman 2, Rohan Reimers 1) d Tankard Dental 4 (Wayne Carmichael 3).
First Semi Final: Regional Taxation Services 6 (Matt Ljubic, Thanh Nguyen, Michael Hensgen 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 5 (Joel Thomas 3).
Mallee Bearings through to the Grand Final; Tankard Dental vs Regional Taxation Services in Preliminary Final Wednesday
PENNANT TWO: Second Semi Final: Max Miller Carpets 6 (Jeremy Corrin, Daniel Jansen 2, John Fitzpatrick 1) d Weightmans Packaging 1 (Quentin Clark 1).
First Semi Final: Mallee Meats 6 (Kevin Johns, Terry Martin 2, James Jarvis 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Peter Midgley, Sony Sefer 2).
Max Miller Carpets through to the Grand Final; Weightmans Packaging vs Mallee Meats in Preliminary Final Wednesday
PENNANT THREE: Second Semi Final: Regional Taxation Services 6 (Shaun Gifford, Rodney Galvin 2, Leo Parker 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Luca Capizzoto 3, Steve Pongrac 1).
First Semi Final: Exposed Signage/Apparel 6 (Levi Williams 3, Riley Clemence 2, Nhat Dat 1) d Mallee Meats 5 (Michael Smyth 2, Nick Kiapekos 1)
Regional Taxation Services through to the Grand Final; Tankard Dental vs Exposed Signage/Apparel in Preliminary Final Wednesday
PENNANT FOUR: Second Semi Final: Weightmans Packaging 7 (Glenn Leeson 3, Chelsey Avers 2) d Dunkley Scales 4 (Dianne Hannig 2, Katrina Clifford, Derek Hung 1).
First Semi Final: Mallee Meats 6 (Wendy Simpson 3, Tom Gilmour, Cetty Bonaccorso 1) d Tankard Dental 3 (Maria Starikov 2).
Weightmans Packaging through to the Grand Final; Dunkley Scales vs Mallee Meats in Preliminary Final Wednesday
For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907.
